Charlotte Explodes for C-USA Record 49 Points in Road Win at North Texas

DENTON, TX – Charlotte (1-2; C-USA 1-1) exploded for a school Conference USA record 49 points as they ran away from North Texas (1-3; C-USA 0-2), 49-21, Saturday at Apogee Stadium. Charlotte scored seven touchdowns, by six different players and redshirt senior running back notched a 71-yard touchdown catch and a 66-yard touchdown run on his way to over 200 yards of total offense.

"There were times when we bent and we didn't break. We were really good in the red zone (on defense)," said 49ers head coach Will Healy. "And I thought we were better in the red zone on offense. We got touchdowns. We didn't settle for field goals. That's a big improvement from last week."

Playing in its third straight road game, Charlotte picked up its first C-USA win of the season.

Charlotte put up 599 yards of total offense and held a North Texas team that was averaging 41.0 points per game to nearly half that. Charlotte's offense was balanced with 308 passing yards and a season-high 291 rushing yards.

McAllister scored two touchdowns while putting up 214 yards of total offense. He rushed for 140 yards, his third career 100-yard rushing game, and added 74 receiving yards.

"I can't say enough good things about AMac," Healy said of his running back. "He comes out and keeps working and plays the way he did tonight."

Charlotte charged out to a 21-7 halftime lead by converting 4-of-8 third downs, scoring TDs on both of its red zone trips and holding the Mean Green to no points on three red zone visits.

The 49ers took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a trick play as Dom Shoffner came on a reverse on a flip from running back Tre Harbison and threw to QB Chris Reynolds for an 18-yard TD reception. The Mean Green, meanwhile, reached the red zone twice but missed a 32-yard field goal attempt and surrendered on downs when R-Sr. DE Tyriq Harris stopped a fourth-and-two try from the five-yard line.

Early in the second quarter, Reynolds hit McAllister behind the secondary for a 71-yard touchdown pass to push Charlotte ahead, 14-0. Both TD drives were aided by long third-down receptions by Tyler Ringwood. Ringwood pulled in a 23-yard catch and run on third and eight on the first scoring drive and a 24-yarder on third and nine on the second scoring drive.

The Mean Green answered immediately with a drive that culminated in a 28-yard TD pass to Jaelon Darden to cut the lead in half, 14-7.

After a missed 31-yard field goal left the Mean Green 0-for-3 in red zone trips in the first half, runs of 46 yards by McAllister and 21 yards by Calvin Camp set up Tre Harbison III's third TD run of the season, from 11 yards out. That five-play scoring drive of 80 yards consisted entirely of rushes.

Charlotte drove down the field on its first possession of the second half, thanks in part to a 36-yard pass to Victor Tucker, to set up freshman Chavon McEachern's first collegiate touchdown plunge from one-yard out.

Again, North Texas answered quickly, with Austin Aune hitting Darden for a 43-yard TD strike to make it 28-14.

Charlotte scored again following a 46-yard pass to Micaleous Elder that led to a 15-yard TD pass to freshman tight end Taylor Thompson.

Darden scored his third TD of the game in the fourth quarter but McAllister followed with his 66-yard TD run to push Charlotte ahead 42-21. Calvin Camp added a 14-yard TD run in the fourth to close out the scoring.

"They're dynamic. It's a really good offense. We bent but we didn't break in a lot of different spots," Healy added. "I love our staff, but players win games. We have some resilient guys. We have since I got here. They worked their rear ends off this week and fortunately they were rewarded."

FIRST YEAR SCORES

Three of Charlotte's TDs came from first-year 49ers: Tre Harbison III, a transfer from Troy, scored on an 11-yard run. Freshman Chavon McEachern scored his first TD as a 49er on a one-yard dive. Freshman Taylor Thompson pulled in a 15-yard TD pass for his first TD as a Niner.

FIRST QUARTER SHUTOUT

Charlotte has not allowed a point in the first quarter this season and has outscored its opponents 24-0 in the opening frame.

AMAC FROM DISTANCE AGAIN

RB Aaron McAllister, who already has a 97-yard kickoff return this season, now has the 49ers longest TD reception of the year – with his 71-yard catch in the second quarter. The 71-yard play matches the longest of Chris Reynolds' career and is his longest TD throw.

After three straight road games to open the season, Charlotte will play its next two games at home. The 49ers host FIU (0-2; C-USA: 0-1), this coming Saturday at 8 p.m. (ESPNU). The following week, Charlotte hosts UTEP in a scheduled 3:30 kick.